Athletes: JVC would like to sell you the PX100 (MSRP $999), a camcorder that can capture your golf swing, pitching motion or hurdling technique in super slow-motion — up to 600 frames per second. In truth, the PX100 is just a really solid camcorder, one of many good choices for filming sports (or any other activity, really). The striking design is what really sets it apart from its peers, though whether you find it useful is a matter of personal taste.

Miss the days of washing your frocks and tunics on a riverbank, beating them against a rock to get out the sweat stains? Well, if you've been looking for a way to make laundry day difficult again, try making your own detergent. We picked four of the Internet's most popular DIY detergent recipes, measured the Borax and whittled the soap bars into test batches, and found that a name-brand detergent did a much better job of getting stains out anyway.

Samsung F7100 TV Review

Samsung makes phenomenal TVs, but the F7100 series (MSRP $1,849-$3,699) falls into an awkward spot. Too cheap to have most of the year's defining high-tech features, but too expensive to be considered by any kind of midrange or value shopper, this set really just looks like it's filling a gap in the company's lineup to make the other models look like better buys.

With a striking aesthetic design and commendable dishwashing skills, the LG LDS55405 (MSRP $799) can stand on its own as a decent buy for the right kitchen. But — don't get scared now — this is a smart appliance, with a feature that can self-diagnose any malfunctions and communicate that data to LG customer service. The repairman will know what's wrong and what parts he needs before he even gets there. This is the future.